- See more at: http://blogtimenow.com/blogging/automatically-redirect-blogger-blog-another-blog-website/#sthash.Q6qPkwFC.dpuf Looks Like Gustavo Rivera's Going to Make Ballot; Padernacht To Meet With Beep [Updated] | Bronx News Networkbronx

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Looks Like Gustavo Rivera's Going to Make Ballot; Padernacht To Meet With Beep [Updated]

The Riverdale Press' Kate Pastor is reporting that a judge's initial report says that 33rd Senate District candidate Gustavo Rivera, who is being vigorously challenged by incumbent Pedro Espada, Jr.'s lawyers, has enough valid signatures to make the ballot.

In other news, fellow Espada challenger Dan Padernacht (who's got a new sign and bunting outside of his Sedgwick Ave. campaign office) says he will be meeting with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. next week. On Monday, Diaz met with Rivera. While he wouldn't commit to supporting Rivera then, he did say he's decidedly against the re-election of Espada.

Update: I wrongly stated above that a "judge" had settled the petition case. It was actually a "special referee" appointed by the Bronx Supreme Court. Also, Rivera's campaign released a statement last night slamming what they considered Espada's "frivolous" challenge of his petition signatures.

"Instead of fighting for our community, Pedro Espada tried to intimidate his own constituents and take away our right to vote for change," said Rivera in the press release. "But the Bronx is still a democracy and our community will have a chance to elect new leadership on September 14th."

We're waiting on word from Espada's camp.

3 comments:

  1. The extent to which the Bronx Democratic Party will go to prevent new blood from entering the leadership ranks of the BX is astounding.

    I have been following several hearings at the Board of Elections and the Bronx Supreme Court that turn the ballot process into a circuit show.

    Some of the most interesting arguments included:
    Ruben Diaz Sr. vs Charlie Ramos (Senate)
    Pedro Espada vs Gustavo Rivera (Senate)
    Michael Benedetto vs Rafael Dominguez (Assembly)
    Peter Rivera vs Luis Sepulveda (Assembly)

    The only people being victimized by this political process are the people of the Bronx. The Bronx Democratic Party invests thousands of dollars to the most influential election attorneys (hired guns) to take out the competition. Our elected leaders have lost the one attribute that sets real leadership apart...it's "backbone".

    I challenge every elected official to take on other candidates head on; competition keeps things interesting and fair. Otherwise, the seat goes to the highest bidder and you will continue to be perceived as cowards.

    ReplyDelete
  2. If my attorney, Ezra Glaser, didn't make their (BX Dems) attorney look like a giant weenie slime-ball, I would of been kept in court longer too. I can call myself an election law expert now, and will offer my aid free of charge to anyone who wants to launch a challenge. Just remember to get your signatures correctly. If you get the signatures, and they challenge you in court, just laugh it off -- all they are trying to do is scare you into wasting money. If you have the signatures and do things the right way, they can't touch you.

    - Robert Giuffre

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is still the United States, as much as they want to make the Bronx into some backwards third world banana republic. Again, get the signatures, make sure you do everything right, and they can't do anything to you. The gig is up. They are exposed. Their baby games are a joke.

    - Robert Giuffre

    ReplyDelete

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